Q: Hi! I'm turning 18 in a few weeks, and I'm really excited about getting my first piercing! Can't wait to get some cute jewelry from you guys! I'm going to get my belly button pierced and, in the future, I want to get some cartilage piercings and maybe a septum piercing too. I'm wondering, being heavily involved in sports (softball, volleyball, skiing, etc.) will that affect my (future) piercings? -Paige
A: In general, being involved in athletics should have no effect on your piercings. You will just need to be extra cautious so that they aren’t in contact with anything, and you may need to add an extra cleaning (with sterile saline woundwash) after being active to keep them at a proper level of cleanliness. If you are planning on piercing your navel, you may wish to use a hard eyepatch (you should be able to find one at a pharmacy) secured in place with medical tape over the piercing to keep it protected. The other issue you may run into is with ear cartilage and things like helmets or earmuffs or anything else that sits on your ear. The best way to work around this is simply to get your piercings done in the off-season for any activities that would require you to wear headgear that touches your ears. As long as your piercings stay clean and don’t come into contact with anything (be it protective gear or an accidental hit) there is no reason why you can’t have piercings and do sports. Happy piercing!
Q: I can't figure out how to insert the curved nose jewelry (fishtail I think it's called?). Tips? Hints? Thank you! -Denise
A: So first let’s talk about terms for a moment. A fishtail nose ring has an extra long straight post. It is designed to be taken to a piercer so they can custom fit it to the length and style that you want such as an L-shape or a screw. A nose screw is the one with the curved post and corkscrew-style end. Nose screws are designed to be worn on a specific side of your nose so that the end of the screw isn’t sticking out of your nostril. As for putting them in, make sure you’re putting it in the correct side. You may want to lubricate the jewelry a bit using body-compatible oil like jojoba or emu oil. This will just make it slide in a little bit more easily. You’ll want to take the end that’s at the bottom (if the external end of the jewelry is removable, you don’t have to remove it) and slowly, gently, feed it into your piercing from the outside of your nose. This is where the lubrication will be helpful as getting the curved part through the fistula can be tricky sometimes. Make sure your jewelry is the right gauge for your piercing as this is not the time to stretch your piercing. And that’s it, just keep slowly pushing and turning the jewelry as needed to feed it through. It may take a little finesse, but it should slide into place. If the process is too uncomfortable, you can always take the jewelry to a piercer and have them insert it for you. Best of luck!
Disclaimer: Body Candy is only here to give you fun and helpful advice and information when it comes to getting pierced. Always consult a professional piercer to make sure a new piercing is right for you!
